7-5 FB Beef on Plate

 America’s Cattle Farmers & Ranchers Eager to Help Consumers Use New Icon 

to Build Healthier Diets with Lean Beef

The new visual icon recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services called MyPlate, offers simple and actionable steps to build healthier diets. This straightforward visual gets back to the basics, illustrating how to create a healthful plate with a balanced mix of nutrition from a variety of foods.

 Recognized by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee as a nutrient-dense food, lean meats – including lean beef – make it easier to “enjoy our food, but eat less” as the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage. [i] In fact, there are more than 29 cuts of beef that meet government guidelines for lean including Sirloin, Tenderloin, T-Bone steak and 95 percent lean Ground Beef, so it is easy for Americans to enjoy a variety of healthful meals that include nutrient-rich lean beef. And, because 67 percent of all beef muscle cuts sold at retail are lean, many consumers are already choosing lean cuts for themselves and their families.

Here’s Jessie Thompson, Communications Coordinator for the Idaho Cattle Association:“The plate gives a nice portion for protein and with the 29 cuts of lean beef available, it just gives our consumers more of a reason to make beef and everyday part of their meals.”

 Research suggests that including lean beef in a heart-healthy diet provides more variety to the diet, which can help improve long-term adherence